To be fair, the word tragedy is melodramatic and an exaggeration.

And the story of Tracy City Elementary DGC isn't an original script. The overused narrative is of a simple course that was installed on the grounds of an elementary school, and subsequently, ignored and neglected over time. The result is predictable: Missing baskets, missing tee signs, a playground put in place over the opening hole, unkempt grounds that include one tee area in the weeds and a layout that barely meets the definition of a course.

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The pros for the Tracy City Elementary course are few. One basket still resides within the large fenced area that appears to normally serve as the likely destination for recess, while the other four baskets are now behind the school amidst a neglected and broken-down playground and ignored play area.

The grass was recently mowed in most places, including around the Hole #7 basket, where weeds and thick grass claimed my favorite Buzzz during my last visit over five years ago.

The five-hole course is quick to play. My buddy and I spent less than 20 minutes on the school grounds (on a day when school wasn't in session), and half of that time was seemingly spent scouting for any other baskets.

Hole #6 is the lone hole that included a sign with distance and a basket. Amusingly, signs still exist for the extinct Hole #1 (long gone) and Hole #5 (where the metal base can still be found). Even more comedically, the signs include two distances, as if there was enough room to merit a short and long teepad/basket.

The negatives of Tracy City Elementary are many and straight-forward.

Four of the original baskets are gone. Of the five baskets that remain, Holes #7 and #8 have only a stake (minus the sign) to indicate the teepad area and Holes #4 and #9 don't have any indication of where the tee pad area is, was or forevermore would be.

Nearly every hole would be unsafe to throw on with children around; obviously, the course is not accessible during school hours.

Part of the area on the right side of Hole #7 is thick grass that might eat your disc, but at least it's not five feet tall anymore.

The tee area for Hole #8 sits in the weeds and is marked by the solitary stake.

The basket for Hole #9 is positioned between a metal-roofed pavilion and a large utility tank.

There was a comment on UDisc about six months ago where a user claimed to be in charge of the Tracy City Elementary course and said there were going to be some improvements. That promise hasn't been fulfilled yet and the course continues to go the way of the dodo.

Nothing has improved since Shadrach3 wrote a review in 2020. As he also argued several years ago, the course is worthy of a 0.0 rating. In its current shape, it's barely playable and the stuff that remains probably merits a sub-0.25 mark.

Not much to speak of anymore.

-Amenities: 6 of the original DISCatchers are accessible. There are also tee posts for (5) and (6).

-Two Good Holes: I enjoyed playing what I think was (4), which was a 300-foot downhill shot with a pocket green on the right, and (5), which was a 250-foot shot over an intruding left-to-right slope.

So many fatal problems.

-Missing Holes: (1) and (2) both appear to be missing, and based on reviews and course conditions, (1) has been absent for a number of years. You might as well count (7) as missing because its basket is deep in 5-foot tall grasses that, if you are foolish enough to play, will eat your disc, give you 12 ticks, and probably introduce you to an exciting variety of snake.

-Missing Tees: (5) and (6) are the only places with tee signs, which is problematic when you have natural tees. I guessed at the position of tee (3) and from there just threw from one basket to the next.

-Navigation: Related to missing tees. It's a good thing that the baskets have numbers printed on them, because otherwise I would have had no clue where to start or what the flow was. It was okay once I got started (using the basket-to-basket approach), but that was only because I had already walked the whole course looking for the beginning (which I may not have found even with the help of DGCR now that (1) and (2) are missing) and so knew which baskets had which numbers.

-Rough: Even setting aside the jungle on (7), the rough here has good potential to eat errant shots in the (3)-(5) area.

-Lack of Variety/Challenge: All straight shots in the 150-300-foot range, excepting (4) and (5) as noted earlier. Most of these are probably par-2's. All that to say, it's boring.

-Access: I don't take points off for this, but do note that it is a school course and will only be playable at select times.

This is as close as I've come in 50 courses to giving a 0.0 rating. Missing holes and missing tees don't help an already-boring course. However, holes (4) and (5) were legitimate holes that I enjoyed and there are 6 playable baskets (for which you could invent your own holes), so Tracy City Elementary School salvages a "Bad." Realistically, anyone except course baggers should go to the new and nearby Baggenstoss Farms instead.

(0.942 Rating) A beginner friendly school course.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - This course is perfect for nearer players. Several wide open fairways, but also a few obstacles that will intrigue newer players to conquer more challenging holes. In addition, the hole distances are very much on the short side averaging at around 200 feet. Also no water is in play, manageable overgrowth, and not an all day excursion.
- ACEABILITY - All of the holes are highly aceable. Great opportunities for juniors to get an ace.
- NAVIGATION - Other than not finding basket (1) the course is really easy to navigate. The only tee sign that's not visible from the prior hole is tee sign (5). Its located across the ditch and is roughly 50 feet south of tee sign (1).
- FORGIVENESS - The odds of losing a disc due to an errant shot is near impossible. You'd have to forget to pick up to lose one here.
- GROW THE SPORT - No doubt will this course aid in growing the sport by offering students easy access to learn the game at a beginner friendly course, on school grounds.
- LOCATION - The course is located a stone's throw from the Fiery Gizzard Trailhead which offers wonderful hiking excursions. So play a quick round before an awesome hike.
- CHAINS - The remaining eight baskets are in great shape. Unfortunately a typical comment when you run out of good things to say about a course.

Most elementary school courses are limited in their reach and this course is no exception.
- HOLE 1 - I couldn't find basket (1). I looked at the photos after my round and I conclude that the new playground in its original spot was the reason it was pulled.
- SAFETY HAZARDS - A bunch of unsafe obstacles in play. Hole (4) plays near a shelter. Hole (5 and 6) play along a school building. Hole (9's) basket is adjacent to what appears to be a large propane tank. Talk about a risk reward ace run.
- BASKET AND TEE SEPARATION - Several tee signs are within 30 feet or so of the prior hole's basket.
- POISON IVY - I spotted poison ivy in the adjacent woods off of basket (3). My guess is that it's in all the adjacent woodsy spots.
- TEES - They are grass with no tee line markings and they are generally not shaded.
- CHARACTER - Extra items are just about non-existent. It's just baskets, tee signs and a shelter, don't expect any other amenities.
- UNIQUENESS - The holes themselves in terms variety are well below average. To seasoned players, they are all short and straight ace runs with the exception of hole (4) that pockets right and may be about 300 feet in length.
- ELEVATION - I think hole (5) may change by 10 feet or so. The rest of the site is pretty flat so even a future change couldn't incorporate any new elevation changes.
- TOO EASY - Advanced players should have no problem shooting 6 or 7 down (8 holes) on a routine basis. Even rec players should be able to shoot a few under here.

Tracy Elementary is definitely a beginners and newer recreational players course. It's an easy one to check of the list if you feel the need to play every course once.
- PERSONAL NOTE - This is the first course that my wife actually threw with me. (my 126th course). I was totally blown away that she could throw a disc 100 feet and she just missed making a par on (5).

This little course is perfect for the elementary aged kids that it is obviously intended for. The short, open holes follow the perimeter of a play field on the front four and then number five leads you around to the back of the school. Its fairway was the most fun on the course in my view. It was one of the longest as well. A slight dogleg left along a steep bank with thick woods to the right. Numbers six through nine are short and weave through playground equipment and propane tanks with number eight being wide open on the back of the field.

Nice tee signs with distances included. The tee pads are natural and have no excessive wear at all. The Innova baskets are in great shape. This course is easy to navigate.

I played while traveling through and had my wife and kids with me and it was great to play a course where they were able to enjoy themselves by reaching the baskets easily. They even picked up a few birdies. This is definitely a must play if you have young kids to bring along who get a little bored on the longer courses. After all, it's made for them.

It's only ten minutes off I-24 so it's a quick stop if you are passing through the area

For experienced players, this course is way too open and short. I don't imagine it is playable during school hours unless you are a student. There are no bathrooms available. The last thing you'll want to do is expose yourself anywhere near a school. I don't remember passing any gas stations once you leave the interstate area so be prepared for that.

I wish more schools would include disc golf in their physical education department. This course will most certainly be catching the attention of a few young players who will go on to be great players as they get older.

Based on what the course is intended to be, for children, I'd rate it a four out of five. For the purposes of the DGCR site I'll have to rate it for the experienced adult players who are the main users of the site.

Update- Some baskets exist, not 9 anymore. I saw 6 baskets last time I drove by. 2 in one area by the playground, the others are behind the school.

Original- This is a 9 hole course. There are basic tee signs and natural tees. Nice baskets. Decent layout, mostly open. Variety of obstacles would include a couple of trees, some rough, a ditch, a hill, a playground, soccer goal, volleyball net pole, monkey bars and propane tanks!! (Some of these may get moved from time to time, but other equipment may become a factor, who knows, it is an active school yard!)

There are 2 distances on each sign and 2 possible basket locations.

Overall the course is pretty easy and short, with many birdie and ace opportunities.

Update- most holes either have baskets gone, or tees are unclear, and too much other stuff interferes with play like structures, or tall grass. Course is down to 6 baskets, and one of those is unplayable. Tees? hard to say.

Original- No specified tee area, you just pick a spot near the tee sign. Signs are kind of small, but once you find #1 you will have no problems.

I played on a holiday when nobody was around, but I would assume on days when school was in session the general public could not play this course.

#1 does play across the parking lot, but again if you go on a day with no school it shouldn't be a problem.

Update- This course has gotten progressively worse over the years, and is bordering on being a practice area now, rather than a course. I don't play here, I just happen to drive by about once a year on my way to hiking the Fiery Gizzard trail. I always check it out, but sadly it keeps getting worse. Maybe the school kids use it in some way, I hope,.

Last time I played here I had some fun playing 4 holes in a circle introducing my son to disc golf. But now 2 of those baskets are gone.


Original- I wished I had a disc golf at my school when I was a kid!!!

#1-5 are longer holes around playground area
#6-9 are much shorter in back of the school

#1 tee is near the front of the school (GONE, playground now)
#2- look out for the soccer net (GONE, greenway now)
#3- to the back corner
#4- longest hole along tree line play
#5- back across ditch toward #1 and plays around the hill behind the school
#6- short with basket on hill
#7- make the monkeybars a mando for a real challenge! (BURIED in grass)
#8- short towards trees
#9- uphill towards propane tanks

This course is also very close to a trailhead of the Fiery Gizzard Trail, part of the South Cumberland Recreation Area if you want to go hiking after you play!